A 42-YEAR-OLD man who last week admitted trying to abduct a girl with the intention of sexually assaulting her yesterday admitted attempting to falsely imprison another young woman.

Dermot Murphy pleaded guilty at Portlaoise Circuit Court to attempted false imprisonment and threatening to kill the young woman in Laois in October 2007.

It is alleged that Murphy, of Atlantic Coast Apartments, Tramore, Co Waterford, attempted to drag the woman, who was in her 20s, into a van as she walked on a rural road near Durrow in Co Laois five years ago.

Murphy is due to be sentenced in July, when he will also be sentenced for a similar offence that occurred last year.

Last Friday, at Mullingar Circuit Court, Judge Tony Hunt promised he would be imposing a "significant" custodial sentence on Murphy.

The court had heard evidence on attempted false imprisonment, assault causing harm and attempted child trafficking committed last summer. The charges relate to an incident involving a teenage girl in the Midlands last July. Murphy attempted to drag the teenager from her bike and force her into a van, with the intention of sexually assaulting her.

Raping

However, the 13-year-old fought off her attacker, kicking him and biting him and losing her top before managing to escape to the safety of a nearby house.

In her victim impact statement, the court heard she doesn't trust men, and fears Murphy could come back to the area where she lives. Last week the court heard Murphy told gardai he didn't know what came over him when he attempted to abduct the teenager, and that perhaps he needed help.

In 1998 Murphy was jailed for almost seven years for raping and falsely imprisoning a young girl in 1997.

He attended a sex offenders' programme in prison.

Murphy was yesterday remanded in custody to appear before Portlaoise Circuit Court tomorrow, for evidence to be given in the sentencing hearing for the Laois offences.